11月5日和6日，李昕副总领事分别在新西兰南岛主流英文媒体《消息报》（the Press）和《奥塔哥时报》（Otago Daily Times）发表关于游客自驾游安全问题的署名文章。全文如下：
Skills, attention and education the keys for tourist drivers
In 2001, I obtained my driver's license in China. Whether in Beijing or Western European countries where I was posted, I drove almost every day in the past 15 years or so. Fortunately, I have not had a single accident.
I came to Christchurch two years ago and South Island's scenery is captivating — it is like "walking in a picture" and I really enjoyed the experience of self-drive tours. But I still remember the first time I drove over the Crown Range. My palms were sweating and it was my first time feeling so nervous — fortunately I was able to calm myself quickly. After that encounter, another few tours followed and proved challenging each time. For a driver, skills are most important.
We always unconsciously choose the habits that have been formed. This is the problem that faces someone when driving in New Zealand, especially those coming from a left-hand driving country — and it is a matter of life and death. I clearly remember the time my wife and I were in the West Coast nearing Fox Glacier, coming up to a bend when we came across a car driving towards us in the same lane. I flashed my headlights, stepped on the brakes and the driver returned to their rightful lane. I did not see where the driver was from.
When I think about it today, the fear is still there. If I had already reached the blind corner, we would have collided head-on. Tourists don't intend to drive on the wrong side of the road, it's just that they are not always fully focused or paying close attention.
Based on that encounter and other incidents involving tourists in recent years, the Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch has tried different means to raise the safety awareness of self-driving tourists. This included publishing Mandarin versions of 'Road safety in the South Island' and distributing them through rental car companies in Christchurch and Queenstown, releasing safety advice for self-driving tourists on major Chinese travel websites, communicating with the AA on safety education for Chinese tourists, helping rental car companies put signature project stickers on steering wheels, and assisting in the production of a road safety video in Mandarin.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also opened a 24 hour consular support hotline. Every Chinese tourist arriving in New Zealand will automatically receive emergency contact numbers of the Chinese Embassy and Consulate Generals in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch on their mobile phones.
I would like to thank the New Zealand Government in taking measures to strengthen the roles and impact of South Island's road signs and everybody who took part in educating safe driving for tourists. I also thank the police, fire service, St John, hospitals and all those who have provided assistance to those tourists involved in crashes. I would also like to express consolation and condolences to the families and victims of those car crashes.
Last year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand rose by 23 per cent, reaching 315,000 people, and in Christchurch alone reaching 61,000. The tourist season has started for this year and with the opening of China Southern's Guangzhou-Christchurch flights in December, Chinese tourist numbers are sure to boost.
Strengthening road safety education is our common responsibility and preventing accidents from happening is our common goal.
《消息报》是新西兰南岛第一大报。该文链接：http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/73553143/Skills-attention-and-education-the-keys-for-tourist-drivers
Driving home the road-safety message requires everyone's input
I have had a lot talks with my Chinese and Kiwi friends about road safety issues.
While I have to repeatedly remind my Chinese friends to driver with extreme care in the South Island, to my surprise, some of my Kiwi friends also find it difficult driving in China.
I obtained my driver's licence in 2001 and I drove almost every day to work in the past eight years or so, when I was working in Beijing.
I came to Christchurch more than two years ago and the self-drive tour has been my favourite.
There are certainly some differences between driving in Beijing and the South Island.
In Beijing, the problem is caused by the sheer number of cars and people on road.
Drivers not only have to pay attention to all the cars, carefully avoiding those novices and intimidating ones, but also to all the pedestrians.
Even a skilled driver must always stay focused because it is very easy to get confused and distracted.
Here in the South Island, some parts of the road are very challenging, like the Crown Range and Lindis Pass, especially on a wet day.
It is just like a skill test when driving on these roads.
Another aspect, which is a matter of life and death, is that a few tourist drivers from a left-hand-driving country may drive on the wrong side of the road.
But please remember, we always unconsciously choose the habits that have been formed.
Tourists don't intend to drive on the wrong side of the road, it's just that they are not always fully focused or paying close attention.
My point is, no matter where we are driving, Beijing or Queenstown, skills and attention are equally important.
Plus, we need to do more education for tourist drivers.
During the past several years, there have been incidents involving tourists in the South Island.
I would like to express consolation and condolences to the families and victims of those car crashes.
I also thank the police, Fire Service, St John, hospitals and all those who have provided assistance to those tourists involved in crashes.
In order to help prevent these tragedies from happening again, the Chinese Consulate-general in Christchurch has tried to step up the education on the safety awareness of self-driving tourists.
This included publishing Mandarin versions of ''Road safety in the South Island'' and distributing them through rental car companies in Christchurch and Queenstown, releasing safety advice for self-driving tourists on major Chinese travel websites, communicating with the AA on safety education for Chinese tourists, helping rental car companies put signature project stickers on steering wheels, and assisting in the production of a road safety video in Mandarin.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also opened a 24-hour consular support hot line.
Every Chinese tourist arriving in New Zealand will automatically receive emergency contact numbers of the Chinese Embassy and consulate-generals in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch on their mobile phones.
I am glad we are not doing this education work solely.
I would like to thank the New Zealand Government in taking measures to strengthen the roles and impact of the South Island's road signs and everybody who took part in educating safe driving for tourists.
Last year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand rose by 23%, reaching 315,000 people, and a majority will come to the South Island to enjoy the stunning scenery.
With the opening of China Southern's Guangzhou-Christchurch flights in December, Chinese tourist numbers are sure to be boosted again.
The tourist season has started for this year. Strengthening road safety education is our common responsibility and preventing accidents from happening is our common goal.
• Li Xin is the deputy consul-general of the Chinese Consulate in Christchurch.
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